All the internet-based solutions face latency issues – meaning there is a longer lag between pressing a gamepad button and getting a response than there would be if the relevant computing tasks were carried out in the same room as the player.

This delay tends to increase the further away the player is based from the data centre doing the grunt work.

That is a particular problem for fighting and shooting titles, where success or defeat can be determined by how many milliseconds it takes a player to react.

Flawless experience

One industry watcher said this and other issues meant there was likely to be at least one more generation of hardware that ran games locally.

“There are concerns from a technical standpoint that not everyone would be able to get a flawless experience,” said Daniel Dawkins, global editor-in-chief of the news site Gamesradar+.

“Ownership of the [physical machines] also helps inspire loyalty and a sense of community. A lot of people would hate the idea of giving up the boxes.”

Another expert added that launching new hardware was a proven way to attract lapsed gamers back to the activity.

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